The
Catalan town of Alghero is located on the Northwest coast
of Sardinia. Known throughout the world for its stunning
beaches and characteristic old town centre it is fast becoming
one of Europe’s holiday hotspots.
Alghero is an old fishing town that has embraced the tourist
industry with two very large arms. Sprawling out along the
coast line Alghero offers the tourist both the opportunity
of a beach holiday or a small city break. If you are looking
to just relax and be somewhere that you can walk out the
door and be on the beach you must stay in the Lido area.
The Lido is Alghero’s own beach that runs all the
way form Alghero to Fertilia, a small hamlet of Alghero.
There are a number of hotels located in the area with sea
views and private sun beds on the beach for residents. In
the summer months the Lido comes to life with a number of
bars, restaurants and pizzerias either on the beach or in
the area and when the sun goes down you can find live music
and parties on the beach.
For those who don’t want to be on the beach and want
to experience a little more of the cultural side of Alghero
there is the old town. Dating back to the 12th century the
old town centre is truly something that must be seen to
be fully appreciated. Have lunch along the battlements looking
out to sea or take a stroll through the shops in the warren
of cobble stone streets. There are a number of churches
and historical places of interest to visit and many guided
excursions to help make sure you do not miss anything.
The area of Alghero does of course spread beyond the boundaries
of the city itself. There is Porto Conte with its natural
wildlife reserve that spreads along the coast line in complete
natural beauty. Reachable either by land or by boat excursion
there is Capo Caccia and Neptune’s Grotto which is
a must for any visitor to Alghero.
Away form the coast there is also much to see and do. Why
not visit an Agriturismo, a working farm that has lodging
and restaurant facilities serving up only produce from the
farm.
As mentioned earlier Alghero is a Catalan town and although
much of the cuisine available is Italian there are a few
Catalan influences to be found. Why not try Paella Algherese
or Catalan lobster (served cold with fresh tomato and onion).
There are of course many Sardinian specialities to be tried
such as roast suckling pig or Seadas, a pastry filled with
Goats cheese and then dribbled with honey.
The climate in Alghero allows for a perfect vacation all
year round. The summer months get up to about 35 degrees
and throughout the day in the winter the temperature never
drops much below 15 degrees.
A great place for children and adults alike, Alghero is
definitely worth a visit.
